Sushrut Samhita

Author(s): Sushrut Maharshi, Narayanram Acharya
Publisher: Chaukhambha Orientaliya

Page 13

[ xii This divergence is the result of viewing the text as a whole without analysing the different strata of authorship taking place during different perio.is. But as said earlier, four distinct strata can be analysed with different dates. Looking from this angle, there is no any real contradiction among these views and they, in fact, relate to different strata. The views A, B, C, D represent the four strata respectively. Hoernle wants to place Susruta in the period of Brahmana-upanisads but bringing down the date of Satapatha Brahmana to 600 B.C. he fixes Susruta there. But it is well known that Brahmanas were completed long before the birth of Lord Buddha ( 6th Cent. B.C. ) and as such Susruta's date can in no way be 600 B.C. Another interesting view is of Havert Gowen who says that some scholars do not accept the existence of Susruta while some others say that 'Susruta' is the transformation of Socrates' and so is 'Kasi' for 'Cos'. Some existing scholars opine that actually 'Susruta' is an adjective meaning 'well-learned' and refers to the author of the Caraka samhita. Thus, in their opinion, there was one author of both the Caraka and Susruta samhitas. But all these views are untenable in the face of facts. The name of Susruta is found in ancient texts long before Socrates. Moreover, there is a distinct tradition of Dhanwantari-susruta representing the surgical school quite independent from the medical school represented by Atreya-Agnivesa. Contributions of the Susruta samhita : . The major contributions of the Susruta samhita are as follows : 1. Dissection of human cadavers : Description of the method of dissecting dead bodies found in the Susruta Samhita is the earliest record and as such Susruta can be said as Father of Anatomy. He has also described skin and membranes, bones and joints, muscles and blood vessels elaborately as well as minutely. For Susruta, as he was primarily a surgeon, it was essential to prepare a good and practical base of Anatomy without which surgery could not stand. 2. Method of training : Method of training by lectures, demonstrations and practicals is prescribed by Susruta in a systematic manner. Operative and experimental surgery was perform ed on various similar objects which was known as 'Yogya'. 3. Surgical instruments and operations : Surgical instruments-blunt ( Yantra ) as well as sharp (Sastra) --have been designed according to need and have been named on the similar animal and birds. Eight types of surgical operations are described which include all types of surgical rteatment. Caeserian section, la pratomy and anorectal surgery have been described